The Japan Coast Guard, the United States Coast Guard and the Canadian Coast Guard conducted a joint SAR exercise off the coast of Victoria, Canada on May 21, 2026.

1.OUTLINE

(1)Date and Time

May 21, 2026, 09:00 (Local time)
May 22, 2026, 02:00 (JST)

(2)Location

Off the coast of Victoria, Canada

(3)Assets

Japan Coast Guard

Training vessel "ITSUKUSHIMA"

United States Coast Guard

87-ft cutter
45-ft cutter
Helicopter

Canadian Coast Guard

CCGS Tanu87-ft cutter
47-ft Search and rescue lifeboat

(4)Exercise Contents

　A yacht was assumed to capsize off the coast of Victoria, Canada, and a report was received that crew members had fallen overboard. The Japan Coast Guard (JCG), the United States Coast Guard (USCG) and the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) jointly conducted search and rescue operations.

2. EXERCISE RESULT

• Through this exercise, the three organizations confirmed methods of coordination for joint search and rescue operations and shared the necessary skills and knowledge.
• This exercise provided a valuable opportunity for cadets of the Japan Coast Guard Academy aboard the training vessel "ITSUKUSHIMA" and trainees from the Canadian Coast Guard Academy (who have been on board since departure from Canada) to learn the importance of cooperation with foreign coast guard agencies.
• The JCG will continue to promote cooperation with the USCG through "SAPPHIRE" and with the CCG under the Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC), toward the realization of a Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP).

Photo Gallery

Parallel Navigation

Transfer of Survivors

Bridge Operations on "ITSUKUSHIMA"

Ships Alongside Each Other

Group Photo (Three organizations)

Links

SAPPHIRE26 JCG-USCG-CCG Joint SAR Exercise in 2026 ～Toward the realization of FOIP～ (pdf:782kb)